Project

King County Metro – Seattle, WA

King County Metro’s RapidRide bus rapid transit service received branding and design work, including the original brand identity, fleet graphics, and station signage for the service’s introduction. This work established a strong visual identity that became instantly recognizable throughout the region. Building on this success, the team was later selected to develop the branding, signage, and information materials for RapidRide2, the next generation of the BRT system. Working closely with the architect, the designs integrated seamlessly with the new shelters and included a comprehensive standards manual for the brand and touchpoints.

As part of the RapidRide2 work, a brand audit was conducted that included focus groups with riders and non-riders to test the effectiveness of the designs. The results yielded overwhelming recognition of the RapidRide brand and red color scheme that had been developed for the original service several years earlier, demonstrating the lasting impact and equity of the branding work. This validation confirmed the successful creation of a transit brand with strong public awareness and positive associations that would carry forward into the system’s expansion.

Services Provided

• Original RapidRide brand identity development
• Fleet graphics design for buses
• Station signage systems
• RapidRide2 branding refresh
• Information materials design
• Comprehensive brand standards manual
• Focus group research and brand audit
• Route map development integrating multimodal connections
• Custom pattern design for shelter glass
• Brand guidelines for both signage and stations